Tent pole



Feb. 28, 193-9.

M. K'. MAHAFFEY TENT POLE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 23, 1938 Inventor MI'NNI'E K.MAHAFFEY,,

A iiorney;

' Feb. 28, 1939. M H FF Y 2,148,949

TENT POLE Filed July 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 20 I Q I! i U V :LT

Inventor MiNNiE K. MAHAFFEY,

I A ttorneys Patented Feb. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TENT POLE Minnie Kate Mahafltey, Memphis, Tenn.

Application July 23, 1938, Serial No. 220,956

2. Claims. (Cl. 135-15) This invention relates to poles and particularly tent poles.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tent pole of the telescoping kind having block and tackle means associated therewith in a novel and eflicient manner whereby tofacilitate the extending and telescoping of the pole as and if desired.

Among other objects of the invention are the provision of a pole as may be employed in connection with all sizes of tents; to provide a telescoping tent pole the sections of which may be readily separated for haulage and storage purposes; to provide a tent pole whereby the center of the tent may be raised with more case and less man power than now required; to provide a tent pole whereby the same may be extended or telescoped for adjusting slack in guy line ropes; and to provide a pole of the character above mentioned which will be found especially useful in connection with large tents, such as gospel or show tents.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:-

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the pole, the same being shown extended.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional View through the pole in extended position.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the pole in telescoped condition.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a hook member hereinafter more fully referred to.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that the pole, in the preferred embodiment thereof, comprises a suitable base 5 to which a pole section 6 is secured in any suitable manner but preferably welded to the base 5 as shown in Figure 2 and indicated at l.

The pole section 6 constitutes the fixed or stationary section of the pole and telescopically receives a pole section 8 that on its upper end is provided with a cap 9. Welded to the cap 9 is the tent fabric pin ID.

A salient feature of the present invention is the provision of a block and tackle for use in facilitating the extending and telescoping of the pole and the securing of the pole at the desired position of adjustment. In this connection it will be seen that in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided on the upper end of the fixed pole section 6 a collar H which at a suitable point in its periphery has a portion thereof pressed outwardly into the form of a U to provide a loop l2.

The loop I2 is adapted to be engaged by a hook l3 for suspending from the collar II a block and tackle assembly M.

The block and tackle assembly |4 embodies a pulley block |5 equipped with an eye I6 with which the hook I 3 is engaged as shown. Complemental to the block I5 is a pulley block I1, and trained over the pulleys in the blocks is the rope l8 that is used in an obvious manner for pulling the block ll towards the block l5 incidental to the extending of the post section 8 relative to the post section 6.

The block I! at the bottom thereof is provided with a hook I9 with which is engaged the eye or loop 29 of ahook 2|.'

Preferably loop or eye 20 is welded to hook 2| which latter is formed from a single length of wire or other suitable material with the hook offset at the angle illustrated to the eye 20 and engageable with the pole section 8 through the medium of an opening 22 provided therefor in the lower end portion of the pole section 8.

Also, integral with the hook 2| and projecting from the eye 20 substantially at right angles thereto at the point of junction between the hook 2| and eye 20 is a stop lug 23 that engages the pole 8 above the opening 22 in a manner clearly shown in Figure 2 and in a manner to insure the maintaining of the hook 2| properly engaged with the pole section 8.

To accommodate the hook 2| and lug 23 the pole section 6 is provided with a longitudinal slot For the cable Hi there is provided an anchor bar 25 that extends diametrically through the pole section 6 adjacent the lower end of the section and about which the cable I8 is wrapped as shown in Figure 1 to secure the pole section 8 at the desired position of adjustment relative to the pole section 6. In this connection it will be noted that the bar 25 is arranged in the path of the pole section 8 and thus serves as a stop and support for the section 8 When the latter is in its lowermost telescoped position. It will be 5 understood that bar 25 may be removed and the upper section 8 lowered completely within the section 6 to rest on the ground when the sections are fully telescoped.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utility and advantages of a tent pole embodying the features of the present invention will be had without a more detailed description thereof.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A telescopic tent pole comprising a pair of outer and inner sections, respectively, the inner section for extension and retraction relative to the outer section, and means to extend said inner section comprising a block and tackle anchored to the upper end of the outer section and ineluding a hook operatively connected to the lower end of the inner section, said outer section being provided with a longitudinal guide slot therein for projection of the hook therethrough and travel of the latter therein in connection with the inner section, said hook and slot coacting to prevent relative turning of the sections, and said hook being provided with a lateral stop pin extending into said slot for engagement with the upper end of the slot to limit extension of the inner section, the hook being detachable from the inner section for removal of the same together with the stop pin out of said slot to provide for withdrawal of the inner section out of the outer section.

2. A telescopic tent pole comprising a pair of outer and inner sections, respectively, the inner section for extension and retraction relative to the outer section, and means to extend said inner section comprising a block and, tackle anchored to the upper end of the outer section and including a hook operatively connected to the lower end of the inner section, said outer section being provided with a, longitudinal guide slot therein for projection of the hook therethrough and travel of the latter therein in connection with the inner section, said hook and slot coacting to prevent relative turning of the sections, and said hook being provided with a lateral stop pin extending into said slot for engagement with the upper end of the slot to limit extension of the inner section, the hook being detachable from the inner section for removal of the same together with the stop pin out of said slot to provide for withdrawal of the inner section out of the outer section, and a cleat bar at the lower end of the outer section for the attachment of the tackle thereto to sustain the inner section when extended, said bar projecting through the outersection to function as a stop limiting retraction of the inner section. 

